Teddy Long has been involved in the wrestling business in some shape or form since 1985, and during that time he’s had the chance to work with some of the greatest minds that the industry has ever seen.
The former referee initially worked with Jim Crockett Promotions and WCW before heading to WWE in 1998. Long’s entire WWE tenure came with the company under the stewardship of Vince McMahon, but come 2023, that has all changed.
While McMahon remains involved in creative to some degree, it’s Triple H who is running TV and handling the day-to-day aspects of the creative process.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Nick Hausman for Inside The Ropes, the WWE Hall of Famer gave his take on how things have changed following his appearance at the WWE Draft.
The veteran has openly admitted to being frustrated with the company in the past, but from a personal perspective, he said the regime change has alleviated that situation.
“Well, like you just said they had a regime change. You know what I mean? So there you go right there. I feel real good man. Like I said, I’m not there to try to be full-time anymore. You know what I mean? I really don’t want that.
I just want to enjoy the rest of my life, you know, and go back and make appearances like I just did this past weekend you know, I’m happy with that. But if they want me to come back and do some full-time I got no problem with that.”
Teddy Long Claims WWE Morale Is “A Lot Better”
Teddy Long went on to reveal that from what he’s seen there’s been a general improvement in morale backstage since Triple H became Chief Content Officer. He added that with the new regime in position, he would be happy to make regular appearances for the company.
“But I think like you’re saying with the regime change now it’s a lot better. The morale is better because I was there I had a chance to witness that. So you know, I’d love to be you know, a full-time part of it if that’s what they wanted me to do.”
Long worked as a referee with WWE from late-1998 until 2002. He went on to become an on-screen manager before enjoying multiple spells as SmackDown General Manager. Long was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017.
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